I’ve read quite a few books by Freida McFadden now, and I’ve come to expect stories that keep me guessing, unexpected twists and endings that leave me thinking about what I’ve just read.

Unfortunately, The Intruder wasn’t one of my favourites.

I wouldn’t say I hated the book, because I didn’t. However, I struggled to connect with the storyline, and by the time I reached the ending, I was left feeling more confused than anything else.

Two Timelines, Too Much Confusion

One of my biggest problems with The Intruder was the way the story moved between the past and the present.

I understand why authors use different timelines. Sometimes they can make a mystery even more interesting, gradually revealing information and helping everything fall into place.

However, for me, it just didn’t work particularly well in this book.

I found myself trying to keep track of what was happening in each timeline, and rather than becoming more invested in the mystery, I was becoming increasingly confused.

I enjoy psychological thrillers that make me think, but there’s a difference between being kept guessing and struggling to follow what’s actually happening.

Unfortunately, this book fell into the second category for me.

An Ending That Didn’t Quite Make Sense

Usually, one of my favourite things about a Freida McFadden novel is reaching the ending and discovering how everything fits together.

Even when I haven’t guessed the twists, I normally enjoy that moment when the pieces finally fall into place.

With The Intruder, I didn’t really get that feeling.

I reached the end of the book and still wasn’t entirely sure I’d understood everything.

Instead of feeling shocked or impressed, I was left wondering whether I’d missed something important along the way.

That’s quite frustrating when you’ve invested your time in a story and are hoping for a satisfying conclusion.

I’m not going to discuss the ending in detail because I don’t want to spoil the experience for anyone planning to read it.

However, I will say that it didn’t give me the clarity I was hoping for.

Not Every Book Can Be a Favourite

I’ve enjoyed so many of Freida McFadden’s books, and that’s probably part of the reason I felt disappointed.

I know how gripping her writing can be, particularly when a story keeps me completely absorbed from beginning to end.

This one simply didn’t have the same effect.

Of course, that’s only my experience. Other readers might love the different timelines and find the ending perfectly understandable.

That’s one of the interesting things about reading. We can experience exactly the same book and come away with completely different opinions.

My Final Thoughts

The Intruder wasn’t a terrible book, but it wasn’t particularly memorable for me either.

The switching between past and present made it difficult to follow, and the ending left me with more questions than answers.

However, I do wonder whether this simply wasn’t the right time for me to read it. Sometimes your mood, concentration or what you’ve been reading recently can affect how much you enjoy a story.

Perhaps if I returned to The Intruder in a few months, knowing a little more about what to expect, I’d find the two timelines easier to follow and appreciate the ending differently.

I’m certainly not ruling out giving it a second chance.

For now, though, I feel that three stars is a fair reflection of my first experience. It wasn’t my favourite Freida McFadden novel, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t become a better reading experience another time.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5

Have you read The Intruder? Did you find the different timelines easy to follow, or were you left feeling confused by the ending too?